Bowling For Columbine

[Iarfirithwen]

Without posting a review type thing I have to say this docu was awesome. Absolutely brilliant. It actually went in a direction toward the end that I wasn't expecting away from simpy gun control issues to look at societal issues that unpin the whole problem. You'll go through a whole range of emotions watching it. Truly excellent filmaking. Better than watching Michael Moores television series, "The Aweful Truth". Has anybody else seen it? I'm really keen to hear how it has been received around the world, especially in the USA. Like I keep hearing its doing well, has had terrrific reviews and is winning awards left right and centre, but how is the public receiving it? I have a feeling that those in the film community etc are probably a little left leaning so its hard for me to tell down here how receptive the general population has been to it?

[Catz]

it actually didnt get released in some areas of the States.........i think because it was thought it would be a bit too close to the bone.
it sounds really good actually......and its on my must see list, tho for some reason right at the moment there are heaps of good movies on........im working hard to keep up lol
:catz:

[Daisy Gamgee]

Good to hear you enjoyed - I read a review in Empire, and thought it sounded really good, so would like to catch it at some point. The only problem is finding someone to go with me so I may just wait till its out on DVD

[Ilmarë]

Going to see this on Tuesday... and I'm really looking forward to it too. I'll let you know what i think once i've been.

[Miruvor]

I loved it, of course, but that's because it agrees with me. I looked it up and it's made $16 million so far on only a max of 248 screens at a time. Our local movie reviewers did a radio show picking their 3 favorite movies of the year, and one of them picked it as his second. (Unfortunately, only one of them chose TTT, - but they tended towards the 'art' films this year.)
Oprah Winfrey had Michael Moore on her show, she was so thrilled about the movie.

[Ronin]

Oprah sucks....we like fat Oprah!! :grin:

Catz's right, this one has been the proverbial fire starter amongst most small town gun-totin' folks (of which i am one, don't get me wrong), so unfortunately, the only way to see this flick for some of us is to drive an hour away which really isn't feasible. ech, so it is...but one of the few good films the foreigners get to see before us ;)

[Ilmarë]

Makes a change... so don't grudge it to us will ya!! I'll tell u all about it anyways!

[Ralenquil]

Michael Moorse is a liberal jerk about 95% of his facts are wrong. He acts like and A** and is treated as such. He is a race baiting hypocrit. He is one of the blame America first crowd which is why he is so loved around the world. waste of bandwidth here anything made by Michael Moore is about 180 degrees from the whole truth. I will not go see "Bowling for Columbine" as it would only subsidize Mr. Moore and his ultra-left, idiot friends and the spreading of more half-truths. He no doubt has the ability to make and entertaining product, but then again most propaganda is.verymad

Rant mode off back to my nest :)

[Catz]

ok, before everyone gets into this.........lets not forget folks that were discussing the movie here........not the politics of gun law..........just a wee reminder lol
:catz:

[Ralenquil]

Its not just the gun law ,this guy said in a British newspaper, " that if more Black men had been on the airplanes on 9-11 that the hijackers would have failed " white men are to scared to do anything".verymad

Alets not forget some of his other work like his book
"Stupid White Men"verymad
Michael Moore is consumed by a self imposed "white guilt".

and the move su*ked too waste of filmverymad

Back to the nest I should play nice :)

[Iarfirithwen]

I think the thing with Bowling for Columbine is that its not just about gun control (which I admit I thought it was going to be). It tries to examine some reasons why the annual death toll from firearms in the US is so much higher then any other western country (i.e., USA 11,127 Germany, 381; France, 255 Canada; 165 deaths; United Kingdom, 68; Australia, 65; Japan, 39). Its not just about owning guns because there's a huge number of guns in Canada aswell. If you think Michael Moore is anti-guns he isn't exactly: he's a member of the NRA and in an interview about Bowling For Columbine on Donahue said, "There's nothing against hunters here. I'm all for hunting. " ...
"And that's why I agree with the NRA in part, when they say guns don't kill people, people kill people. Because it really is the people. ......
And we need ask ourselves, why do we, as Americans, do this? And the French don't do it, the Germans don't do it, the Canadians don't do it. They're not any better than us. They're not any less violent as a people. They're humans, they have the same responses as we have. Why don't they go for the gun and kill at the rate that we do? "

Its actually a very thoughtful piece of film making. You don't have to agree with everything he says but the huge death toll from guns seems like such a senseless waste of human life. I wish everyone atleast thought about it.

(And just to avoid getting pegged into any particular basket, I grew up on a farm and know how to shoot/use a gun).
Also DarkStormCrow I wouldn't always pay attention to what is reported in some papers (especially some of the British Tabloids), sometimes its inaccurate, sometimes its taken way out of context. Tabloids like printing controversial things ... it sells more.

Anyway, I really urge everyone to see it. You never know, you might be really surprised.

[Iarfirithwen]

okay :(

[Ronin]

Dark, u most certainly don't have to get on any soap box to proclaim ur ideas...its called film, always influenced and shaded by the directors thoughts and beliefs. personally, i really dig Michael Moore's ability to annoy the hell out of everyone whilst doing a documentary. his ideas...well, to be blunt, most are just to geta rise out of particular people that are way too manipulable.

i probably agree with u more than u realize, personally hate the ultra-leftist slant of the media...and the portrayal of conservatives, like myself, as ignorant behemouths when it is truly those who paint the picture are those themselves. lol...if that makes any sense ;)

but nonetheless, have ever ignorant people are....it is entertainment, and something, something might be worthwhile in saying. finding that something makes everything...worthwhile

[Iarfirithwen]

I've just noticed a post of DarkStormCrows has been deleted between my two posts above. Any particular reason?

[Ralenquil]

I am walking away from this thread it aint worth the rise in blood pressure :)

[Ronin]

I don't see any reason for walking away...seems like a worthless reason to

[Iarfirithwen]

I'm very interested in other peoples opinions, especially from those in the States (which the Doco centres on). I live in Australia at the moment so I don't know what the reaction of the general public in the US has been, and I'd ike to know. Your opinion doesn't have to agree with mine (I think it would be a very boring place if they all did). I want to understand why you have that opinion ...if that makes any sense :)

[Ronin]

lol....talking to someone specific Ia? ;)

the reaction in the states, to be honest, hasn't been much of anything because the film gotten little to no national push. some people were outraged, but the blue-collar network didn't see it so they couldn't really comment. but the majority of folks in the states believe in the right to bear arms, nomatter what else u hear...just as most folks believe in death penalty, despite what u might have heard.

[Ilmarë]

Well... to be honest... it freaked me out a bit... and u know that Ronin. To be able to walk into a Wal Mart and buy a gun and ammunition ... more or less just like that... scared me... because over here, we're just not used to seeing that. Was touched tho near the end when Michael Moore took 2 kids who survived the Columbine shootings into Wal Mart HQ...and succeeded in getting them to stop selling ammo in their stores.

[Catz]

i think that even if you DONT agree with Moores politics theres value there simply in that it shows people a situation, that to most of them, is totally foreign
i dont disagree with guns per se.......im from a rural country, where guns are a part of life for many people............what i DO disagree with is letting any Tom Dick or Fruitcake have a gun..........and whats more.........a gun specifically designed for killing other people..........thats something of a problem.......and thats not to say that there arent plenty of responsible gun owners in the States...........but given the stats..........there must be many more who shouldnt be in charge of a pizza, never mind a weapon
and im not surprised this movie has had no push in the states........is anyone?
:catz:

[Ilmarë]

Nope.. not really surprised at all now i've seen the film.

[Ronin]

and we thought Australia got all the convicted, daft, idiots ;)

[Ilmarë]

lol roflmao roflmao lol

[Catz]

now thats not a very nice thing to say about your relatives Ronin!! ;) :p lol
its kind of weird tho, that in the States gun ownership has taken on this almost mystical feel.......where in dozens of other countries who also had pioneering and lawless pasts, Aussie being a good example, the gun laws are much tougher and ther isnt that same sense of "right" that there is in the States
:catz:

[Ilmarë]

lol .. yeah, no going back any time soon, hon... unless you want to be met by a very familiar lynch mob!;) lol
Just a question tho, R... I know that Americans have the right to bear arms.... but why do people do it?:huh: Just interested in the reasons for it.

[Ronin]

the reasons? because we can

[Catz]

lol which is the reason for just about any and every thing that people do in this world ;) lol but its typical human nature
:catz:

[high capt. of angbad]

hey Iarfirithwen he only is a member so he can be elected as pres and dismantle it.